Full Budget Documents

Mr Osborne vowed to limit increases in vehicle excise duty, known as road tax, in line with inflation.

But his insistence that the Budget was part of efforts to "ease the burden on motorists" was not universally accepted within the industry.

"The increase in fuel duty makes no allowance for car-dependent, rural and disabled drivers," said Mr King.

'Green the business fleet'

Other measured announced by the chancellor were welcomed, however.

Industry body SMMT said Mr Osborne's tax and incentive programmes would encourage international investment in manufacturing and in research and development in the UK.

Fuel duty will rise in August, as planned

In particular, "a review by Lord Heseltine into the role of government in delivering pro-growth policies" and "continued support for low and ultra-low carbon vehicles" were deemed helpful by SMMT chief executive Paul Everitt.

Separately, changes to capital allowance and tax relief rules, as well as the car fuel benefit charge, should help "green the UK's business fleet", according to Mike Moore, automotive analyst with Deloitte, a consultancy.

"This means that businesses should seriously consider the carbon foot print of their fleet in order to control costs," he said.

John Lewis, chief executive of BVRLA, which represents fleet customers, said it was "no surprise that the Chancellor is continuing to incentivise further cuts in emissions by lowering the tax thresholds", but insisted his "efforts to drive down emissions-based capital allowances for company cars could be a step too far, too soon".

Air passenger duty

Mr Osborne also defied aviation industry lobbyists, announcing that an 8% rise in air passenger duty will go ahead on 1 April, as planned.